Broncos Camp Preview: Josh Furman, S

Chad Jensen

07/17/2015

As we gear up for Broncos training camp (July 31st), Mile High Huddle will review individual players on the roster—history, evaluations, and projections moving forward—to make sure you're well-acquainted with each guy.

Josh Furman

Measurables: 6-foot-1, 210 pounds.

2014 stats: N/A *rookie.

Josh Furman is accustomed to change. In college, he changed positions, coaches—he even changed schools. He was suspended from the Michigan Wolverines football program in early 2012, due to allegations of domestic abuse, of which he was eventually exonerated.

By the time he was found innocent of the charges, Furman’s old coach Rich Rodriguez had been fired, leaving Furman with the daunting task of having to re-carve out a role with the team and make an impression on a new staff, according to former teammate Troy Woolfolk, via NewsOk.com.

“Because of the coaches not really knowing him, it made them kind of put Josh in that category of, ‘Oh, he’s one of those kids’ … because you do come across kids who act bad and that’s a habitual action,” said Woolfolk, who had since graduated when the incident took place. “Unfortunately for him, from having a new coach come in, they really don’t have the same loyalty to you as a person.”

After appearing in just four games that next season, Furman graduated college and immediately began looking for another school to finish out his football eligibility. At length, he end up at Oklahoma State, where he had a very productive 2014 season, amassing 64 total tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble—while defensing five passes. Those are eye-popping stats.

Although he didn’t work out at the NFL Scouting Combine, Furman did manage to keep his momentum rolling from 2014 with an outstanding Pro Day, running a 4.47 40-yard dash, 38-inch vertical leap, 124-inch broad jump, 11.4 60-yard shuttle and threw up 18 reps on the bench press (225lbs). Four of these marks would have ranked among the top-five for safeties at the Combine.

The Denver Broncos selected him with the 35th pick in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Scouts seemed to be confounded on Furman. They couldn’t figure out if he was a linebacker or a box safety. He played both positions in a kind of hybrid role in college and he played them well.

However, Furman sees himself as a safety. So does John Elway, as he made clear in his post-draft presser back in May.

“He is a box safety,” Elway said. “That’s what he played at Oklahoma State. He played a lot of nickel but really played in the box. But he’s a physical guy, really a height-weight-speed guy that we thought could continue to grow, whether it be at strong safety—and that’s where he’ll play—but yeah, at Oklahoma State he was mainly a box, nickel safety is what he was.”

The Broncos have one of the best box safeties in the NFL in T.J. Ward, who earned his second career Pro Bowl berth in 2014. Furman will be groomed behind him. Although he lacks skills in coverage and in space, Furman’s physicality and instinct should serve as a strong foundation for the Broncos coaches to build on.

Stewart is penciled in as the starting free safety, with Bruton as the third guy—and one who can play both positions. The fourth safety spot will come down to Furman, Bolden, Bush and Madison. If Furman fails to win out, the Broncos should be able to sneak him through waivers and onto the practice squad, which will give him a full year in the system.

Josh Furman

Measurables: 6-foot-1, 210 pounds.

2014 stats: N/A *rookie.

Josh Furman is accustomed to change. In college, he changed positions, coaches—he even changed schools. He was suspended from the Michigan Wolverines football program in early 2012, due to allegations of domestic abuse, of which he was eventually exonerated.

By the time he was found innocent of the charges, Furman’s old coach Rich Rodriguez had been fired, leaving Furman with the daunting task of having to re-carve out a role with the team and make an impression on a new staff, according to former teammate Troy Woolfolk, via NewsOk.com.

“Because of the coaches not really knowing him, it made them kind of put Josh in that category of, ‘Oh, he’s one of those kids’ … because you do come across kids who act bad and that’s a habitual action,” said Woolfolk, who had since graduated when the incident took place. “Unfortunately for him, from having a new coach come in, they really don’t have the same loyalty to you as a person.”

After appearing in just four games that next season, Furman graduated college and immediately began looking for another school to finish out his football eligibility. At length, he end up at Oklahoma State, where he had a very productive 2014 season, amassing 64 total tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble—while defensing five passes. Those are eye-popping stats.

Although he didn’t work out at the NFL Scouting Combine, Furman did manage to keep his momentum rolling from 2014 with an outstanding Pro Day, running a 4.47 40-yard dash, 38-inch vertical leap, 124-inch broad jump, 11.4 60-yard shuttle and threw up 18 reps on the bench press (225lbs). Four of these marks would have ranked among the top-five for safeties at the Combine.

The Denver Broncos selected him with the 35th pick in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Scouts seemed to be confounded on Furman. They couldn’t figure out if he was a linebacker or a box safety. He played both positions in a kind of hybrid role in college and he played them well.

However, Furman sees himself as a safety. So does John Elway, as he made clear in his post-draft presser back in May.

“He is a box safety,” Elway said. “That’s what he played at Oklahoma State. He played a lot of nickel but really played in the box. But he’s a physical guy, really a height-weight-speed guy that we thought could continue to grow, whether it be at strong safety—and that’s where he’ll play—but yeah, at Oklahoma State he was mainly a box, nickel safety is what he was.”

The Broncos have one of the best box safeties in the NFL in T.J. Ward, who earned his second career Pro Bowl berth in 2014. Furman will be groomed behind him. Although he lacks skills in coverage and in space, Furman’s physicality and instinct should serve as a strong foundation for the Broncos coaches to build on.

Stewart is penciled in as the starting free safety, with Bruton as the third guy—and one who can play both positions. The fourth safety spot will come down to Furman, Bolden, Bush and Madison. If Furman fails to win out, the Broncos should be able to sneak him through waivers and onto the practice squad, which will give him a full year in the system.